An infrared image of the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 1569. Starburst galaxies undergo periods of intense star formation. The starburst activity in NGC 1569 is concentrated into three giant regions which are clearly visible as three red knots in the false color image.

These same starburst regions likely contain the massive X-ray binary stars which may be responsible for part of the mysterious X-ray background that permeates the universe.

This image was obtained with the Kitt Peak National Observatory 1.3 meter telescope, in Arizona. The infrared digital camera, developed at NOAO, sees Infrared light at a wavelength of 1.6 microns.

This Image was presented to the meeting of the American Astronomical Society In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1991.